cad well



(No Model) I M. S. OADWELL.

HANDLE FOR PITGHFORKS AND OTHER IMPLEMENTS.

Patented Oct. 6, 1885 N. FErERS. MLWVPJL Washi gton. D.C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARVIN S. GADWELL, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MARY CADWELL, OF SAME PLACE.

HANDLE FOR PITCHFORKS AND OTHER IMPLEMENTS.

' ESPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,522, dated October 6, 1885.

Application filed April 16, 1885. Serial No. 162,403.

1' 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARVIN S. CADWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Lansing, in the county of Ingham and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Handles forPitchforks and other Implements, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore handles for pitchforks and other like tools, wherein the handles are subjected to great transverse strain,have required to be made of the best and strongest straight-grained timber, like ash or hickory, and even when so made are frequently broken. Handles made of such woods as ash or hickory are not only expensive, owing to the highprice of such wood, especially when it is required to be perfectly straight grained, but they are also quite heavy, and for that reason somewhat inconvenient in use.

The object of my invention is to provide means for making a strong, practical, and efficient handle for forks and other like tools out of the cheaper,1ighter, and weaker woods, like pine, elm,white wood, &c.; and to this end my invention consists in the combination,with a wood handle,of a wire strengthening-rod extending along a groove in the upper side of the handle and secured at each end, so as to operate as atruss-rod and give strength to the handle by its tensile strain. In order to specially strengthen the handle at the inner end of the ferrule, which ordinarily is the weakest point, I lead the truss-rod over the ferrule for some distance pastthe joint, and then through a hole in the ferrule down on the inside thereof. One end of the truss-rod may be secured by simply bending its end over the edge of the ferrule, and the other end is secured by a nut or screw-cap that fits over the outer end of the handle, so that the truss may be tightened. The groove along the upper side of the handle,

by which I mean the side that receives the (No model.)

the handle, I lead the end'of the trussrod through a-diagonal hole extending from the groove to near the center of the handle at the end thereof. By this means I am enabled to produce from pine or other soft cheap wood a strongeras well as a lighter and cheaper handle than those made from the best ash or hickory. p

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which s1n 11-. lar letters of reference indicate like parts,F1gure 1 is a partial central longitudinal section of a handle embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are cross-sections on lines 2 2 and 3 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are end views, and Fig. 6 is atop or plan view of the handle.

In the drawings, A represents a wood handle of any usual form, provided with a longitudinal groove, 64, along its upper side or the side which receives the tensile strain. Thls groove a terminates near the upper end of the handle in a diagonal hole, a, extending preferably to near the center of the handle at its end. B is the ferrule on the opposite end of the handle, and O is the truss-rod, preferably made of about No. 8 steel wire for an ordinary pitchfork handle. The ferrule B is provided with an opening, b, preferably about one-half inch from the inner end of the ferrule, through which opening the truss-rod is inserted, so as to overlap the end of the ferrule and strengthen the joint. In handles which are provided with ferrules aconvenient means of securing the end of the truss-rod is simply to bend the same over theend or edge of the ferrule, as shown at c,- but other suitable means may be used, if preferred. One end of the truss-rod, preferably the upper one, I provide with a' screw-thread, 0, and secure it by a threaded nut or cap, 0, that fits over the end of the handle. In pitchforks and other like handles where the palm of the hand is frequently placed on the end of the handle this cap should be given an oval form, as indicated in Fig. 4. If, in tightening the truss-rod up, its threaded end should project beyond the cap 0 the end of the rod may be cut or filed off smooth.

Greater efficiency will be given to the trussrod, by making the handle A with a bend or curve, A; but, While this is the preferable construction, my invention is applicable to straight handles.

The groove a should be deep enough, so that the wire 0 will lie flush with the surface of the handle.

If it is desired to entirely conceal the trussrod, the handle may be provided with a hole along the upper side extending the entire length,instead of a groove, as before described. The groove is, however, the cheaper as Well as better construction, as it brings the trussrod nearer the upper or tensile side of the handle.

In some handles, like oars, for example, where the tensile strain comes frequently on either side, two truss-rods should be provided, one for each side. In cant-hooks and such like handles, Where the tensile strain ordinarily comes on the under side, the truss-rod will of course be located accordingly. Staples 0 may be driven into the handle over the truss-rod at intervals,as an additional means of holding the same in place.

I claim- 1. The combination of handle A with trussrod 0 and ferrule B, said ferrule B being provided with an opening, b, a short distance from its inner end, through which said trussrod is inserted to specially strengthen the handle at the inner end of said ferrule, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of wood handle A,having longitudinal groove to and diagonal hole a, with truss-rod O,passing through said groove and hole, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of wood handle A,hav ing longitudinal groove a and diagonal hole a,with ferrule B,having opening I), and trussrod 0, passing through said groove, diagonal hole, and opening,-substantially as specified.

4.. The combination of Wood handle A,having groove a and hole a, with ferrule B, having opening b, and truss-rod 0, having bent end 0, threaded end 0', and nut 0 said truss rod passing through said groove a, hole a',and opening b, substantially as specified.

MARVIN S. GADWELL.

Witnesses:

JASON R. OADWELL, W. H. CADWELL. 

